The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-07-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
! WAsH1NGroN. D. C.. july 4. 1887.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 4, 1887.
Notwithstanding the hot weather
which prevails here, there are more Sen.
ators and Representatives in the City
than were ever known before in this
month of the year, except when Con.
gress was sitting. The only reason that
can be assigned for it, is that the fiscal
year of the Government closed on the
last day of June, and the appropriations
were available after July first. Tt is not
generally known outside of the Capitol,
that there are more changes in the Fed
eral Offices on the last of June, to take
effect the first of July, than at any other
time in the year. 1t is like settling up
old accounts and starting with new
force. Congress at its last session pro-
vided for large increase in the force of
several Departments, and also created
many new Federal Offices throug ghout the
whole Country, and it is after these new
offices more especially, than the reten.
tion C: favorites in positions already
secured, that these Statesmen are here.
It is pretty warm weather to have to lis.
ten atteutively to appeals for Office, but
still the President stands the interview
ing and importuning with equanimity of
mind, good nature and proverbial stolid.
ity. After the fatigue of the day, he
drives out to Oak View and regales
himself in the cool of the evening with
pleasant social chat with members of bis
family and guests, who studiously avoid
discussing any Of the weighty cares of
State.
The old Mexicans veterans are happy
over the dispatch with which their
claims are settled. The Pension Office
has recognized the necessity of prompt
action in these cases, owing to the
advanced age of most of the claimants,
and SO has put big force upon them.
If the papers are properly prepared, and
the claim substantiated when filed, the
claimant usually can obtain final set
Element in from two to three months.
Is rule, in other cases, it is a year or
more before they are reached for action,
aud then comes delay after delay, caused
by absurd calls for additional evidence.
As rule, the Office requires claimant
to prove his case many times over by
calling for such evidence that no Court
would give any weight to. The serious
delay to the interests of the claimant is
not wilful on the part of the Govern.
ment; but due to the total ignorance Of
the law of evidence, by the large major
ity of the clerks whose business it is to
pass upon the suficiency of the proofs
submitted. There is, perhaps, no Blu.
reau under the Government where such
large proportion Of its force should be
thoroughly familiar with the principles
of the law of evidence, as that of the
Pension Office, and yet it is difficult to
conceive of less informed body of men
on that subject, than the clerks in that
Office. If the soldier element would
demand more efficiency in that branch of
the Government it would get it.
The Civil service compulsory exami-
nation in the Departments for promotion
is now being held, and there is much
anxiety as to the result. The examina.
tion in the War Department was closed
one week ago, and the result just
announced shows that all. except seven
passed. What will become OF the lone
seven is now the question. The rules do
not require the summary dismissal Of
those who fail to pass, but leave it to the
discretion of the Department whether
to retain or dismiss. The probability is,
that in most cases dismissal will follow,
as there are many applicants eager for
the places, and as soon as it is learned
that there are places that can be consis.
tently made vacant under color of law,
the appointing power will have no rest
until the vacancies are made and filled.
The way the positions are obtained, is to
receive an appointment as a messenger
or laborer, and then being inside enter
one of these examinations, and if you
pass, bring the influence that got you
the first position to bear on the head of
the Department to promote you to one
of the positions made vacant by the dis.
missal of the clerk who performed the
duties satisfactorily for years, but failed
to stand the test of the Civil service
standard of competency. There are
many ways of doing thing or accom-
plishiug purpose, if you have ingenuity
enough to make the way. The clerks
are all staying at home these warm
nights and sweating under the heat of
the midnight oil to prepare themselves
for the coming ordeal. So far, the
women have passed higher in the exami-